The "R" word

When is limiting the amount of purchases of food and other staples in order to stop contraband trading different in some way from rationing?

Never.

I know something they could try, though.  The state could assume ownership of the production of food and other staples, and distribute them to people fairly.  Then there would never be any shortages or any inequality.

8 comments:

Grim said...

Interesting that it's being compared to "Cuban-style rationing" and "Chavez-style" problems. Odd that these things keep turning up with that model. Inexplicable, really.

MikeD said...

I know something they could try, though. The state could assume ownership of the production of food and other staples, and distribute them to people fairly. Then there would never be any shortages or any inequality.

That's sarcasm, right? I can sometimes guess, but given the world today...

Sam L. said...

Riiiiiiiiight. Governments do dat so well.

Texan99 said...

I know it's failed every other time, but this time will be different. We promise not to starve 20 million people to death this time if you'll let us implement rationing and price controls just this once.

E Hines said...

...this time will be different. We promise not to starve 20 million people to death this time if you'll let us implement rationing and price controls just this once.

But that's just backwards. If you reduce demand to fit production, there will be no shortages, no need for price controls. Don't ration the food. Eliminate the eaters. 20 million is a good start for a state with a population of a light 4 million....

And think of the collateral gains: all that property freed up for government's use, and with no need to roust anyone.

Eric Hines

Texan99 said...

Even better, eat the eaters.

E Hines said...

Not that hungry. Yet. There's been the theory for some time (possibly apocryphal; I would never make such a claim) that the reason we survived shortly after we fell out of the trees was because we tasted so bad to the predators.

On the other hand, if there were no rationing of The Secret Sauce....

Eric Hines

MikeD said...

IT'S MADE OF PEOPLE! PEEEEEEEEEEPUUUUUUUUUUUUL!